Gear drive and support for corn harvesting unit

ABSTRACT

A support and drive for a corn harvesting unit that includes a gear housing adapted for transverse adjustment along a transverse beam and having a transverse shaft receiving opening that permits adjustment of the gear housing along a transverse drive shaft, a corn harvesting unit framework supported at its rear end on the gear housing whereby the framework in the corn harvesting mechanism carried on the framework is supported in cantilever fashion on the gear housing, and gear mechanism within the gear housing having external terminal portions connected to the harvesting mechanism whereby the entire harvesting mechanism is driven by gears within the gear housing and the entire harvesting mechanism and its framework is supported on the gear housing.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,759,021

Schreiner et-al. 1 Sept. 18, 1973 [54] GEAR DRIVE AND SUPPORT FOR CORN3,018,666 1/1962 Hoffman 74/230.17 F

HARVESTING UN" 3,162,989 12/1964 Wheeler 3,466,854 9/1969 Ashton et a1.56/11.1

[76] Inventors: Lester Dale Schreiner, 301 N. Scott St., Ankeny, Iowa50021; John Joseph Shindelar, 295 N. W. 66th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa50313 Primary Examiner-Antonio F. Guida At10rneyWilliam A. Murray et a1.

[22] Filed: Oct. 22, 1970 57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. N .1 83,250 A supportand drive for a corn harvesting unit that in- Related Us. ApplicationData cludes a gear housing adapted for transverse adjustment along atransverse beam and having a transverse shaft receiving opening thatpermits adjustment of the gear housing along a transverse drive shaft, acorn harvesting unit framework supported at its rear end on the [60]Division of Ser. No. 5,644, Jan. 21, 1970, Pat. No. 3,589,110, which isa continuation of Ser. No. 662,928, Aug. 24, 1967, abandoned.

52 us. c1 56/106 56/11 1 gear musing whereby the framework in 51 Int. ClAoid 45/112 vesting mechanism famewmk is [58] Field of Search 56/11111.4 11.5 Cantilever fashion the gear housing 56/105 74/230 17 A 230 17F gear mechanism within the gear housing having external terminalportions connected to the harvesting mechanism whereby the entireharvesting mechanism [56] References Cited d b r th ho nd th f 18 rivenygea SW1 in e gear usinga e en ire UNITED STATES PATENTS harvestingmechanism and its framework is supported 3,101,579 8/1963 Karlsson eta1. 56/105 on the gear h i 3,271,940 9/1966 Ashton et a1. 56/1053,180,163 4/1965 Robertson 74/230.17 A 7 Claims, 10 Drawing FiguresPatented Sept. 18, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Sept. 18, 19733,759,021

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 18, 1973 3,759,021

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 GEAR DRIVE AND SUPPORT FOR CORN HARVESTING UNIT This isa division of previous U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 5,644 filed Jan.21, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,110, the previous application being acontinuation of yet an earlier application, Ser. No. 662,928 filed Aug.24, 1967 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to a corn harvesterattachment adapted to be mounted on the forward end of a combine. Moreparticularly the invention pertains to the structure for mounting anddriving the individual harvesting units of a multi-row harvesterattachment on a single transverse beam and a single transverse driveshaft that spans the expanse of several rows of corn.

It has heretofore been known to provide a transverse beam on a cornharvester attachment that extends across several rows of corn and tohave the individual row units for the respective rows of corn to besupported for transverse adjustment along the transverse beam. Thelatter adjustment is necessary to accommodate various spacing betweenthe rows of corn. It has also been known to provide a transverse driveshaft means that is adjustable in various manner to accommodate itselfto the drive mechanism on the respective rowunits at different spacingbetween the row units. Such a support and drive is shown in U.S. Pat.No. 3,589,110 issued June 29, 1971 to Schreiner et al.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention there is provided asingle gear housing that is supported on a transverse be'am extendingacross several rows of plants. The gear housing serves as the primaryand only support for the framework of the respective row units which inturn serves as the only and main support for the harvesting mechanismsof the row units. The gear housing has gear trains therein serving asthe only drive rrieans for the harvesting mechanism on the respectiveframework. Each gear housing has a transverse opening that circumscribesa single transverse drive shaft extending substantially the full widthof the harvester attachment. The gear train includes a main drive gearsupported in the gear housing concentric with the main drive shaft thatextends through the housing. The gear train operates the entireharvesting mechanism of the respective row unit. The main gear isdrivingly connected to the main drive shaft by a clutch having one ofits parts slidably mounted relative to the main drive shaft butdrivingly connected thereto.

The gear housing is further utilized to support in cantilever fashionthe main rigid framework for the harvesting mechanism of the respectiverow unit. Consequently a single gear housing serves in partas the mainsupport for the harvesting unit as well as a container for the drivemechanism to the harvesting mechanisms of the unit.

It is further proposed in the present invention to provide in thefore-and-aft structure of the row units an adjustable plate that definesone side of a plant passage. The adjustable plate is movabletransversely on the supporting elements or framework of each row unit sothat the width of the respective passageway may be varied. Supported onthe transverse beam closely adjacent thereto is a transversely shiftablecontrol rod, also extending the full width of the harvester, and thereare means connecting the rod and each of the shiftablc plates on therespective row units. Consequently shifting of the transverse rod shiftsthe transversely adjustable plates of all of the row units in unison.

It is further proposed as part of the present invention to provide anadjustable drive between the main drive on the combine and the maintransverse shaft on the harvester whereby the speed or rate of movementof the harvesting mechanisms may be adjusted irrespective of the speedof the combine and in accordance with the characteristics of the cornmoving through the harvester.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view ofa combine with the corn head portion removed.

FIG. 2 is a front and perspective view of the combine with a corn headattached thereto.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a com harvester mechanism with thehousing or styling removed therefrom.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 4-4 ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the upper end of the structure shown inFIG. 3 with portions broken away to show internal mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a view taken substantially along the lines 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view taken substantially along the lines 77 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a variable speed drive supported on theside of the feeder housing of the combine.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 9--9 ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the drive for the corn head.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The corn head 10 is supported onthe forward end of a combine 11, a feeder housing structure 12 beingprovvided between the combine 11 and corn head 10. The corn head 10 hasan upper transverse structural tube 13 extending across its upper rearside. A pair of transverse vertical rear walls 14, 15 is supportedbeneath the beam 13 and terminates adjacent an opening at the center ofthe corn head, 10. The feeder housing 12 is provided with a forwardupper horizontal groove 16 that engages the under side of the centerportion of the tubular beam l3. A wall 17 is provided beneath the groove16 and generally fills the gap between the inner edges of the walls 14,15. The feeder housing 12 is therefore coniiected to the corn head 10 byinserting the groove 16 beneath the underside of the tubular member 13and raising until the wall 17 is in vertical alignment with the walls14, 15. The lower edge of the wall 17 is provided with suitable meansfor connecting that edge to the corn head housing. This connection is,for purposes of the present invention, of little significance since itis shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,412,534 issued Nov. 26, 1968to Teale. Should de tails of this construction be desired, such may behad by reference to this patent.

At opposite ends of the transverse tubular member 13 is a pair offore-and-aft extending end walls or stylings 18, 19 terminating in apair of forward gatherers 20, 21. In the present invention, the cornhead is utilized to harvest four rows of corn and consequently betweenthe gatherers 20, 21 there are three additional gatherers 22, 23, 24that feed stalks of corn into the respective passages as the combinemoves forwardly. The

gatherers 20-24 and the styling or panels extending.

rearwardly therefrom covers harvesting row mechanism 25 as shownspecifically in FIG. 3. All of the row or harvesting units 25 aresupported on a single transversely extending main support beam 26disposed just rearwardly of the respective units 25 and extendingsubstantially the transverse expanse of the corn head attachment 10.Each of the row units 25 is composed of a gear housing 27 having a rigidlower portion 28 with rear and lower surfaces that engage the internalsurfaces of the angle iron main beam 26. The portion 28 of the gearhousing has upper and lower flanges 29, 30 respectively receiving a pairof bolts 31, 32. The bolt 31 has an eyelet 33 that receives the bolt 32.The bolts 31, 32 extend on the outer sides of the transverse beam 26, asshown clearly in FIG. 5, and when the nuts for the bolts are suitablytightened, the respective gear housings 27 are bolted rigidly to thebeam 26. Upon loosening the nuts on the bolts 31, 32 the entireharvesting unit may be shifted transversely on the beam 26 where thenuts may again be tightened.

Plate structure or framework 35 is bolted to the respective gearhousings 27 by bolts 36, 37. The plate structure 35 is composed of arear plate 38, partially overlying the gear housing 27, and a pair offore-andaft extending deck plates 39, 40 spaced transversely apart tohave inner adjacent edges defining a fore-andaft extending passagethrough which stalks may move. Depending from the underside and fixed tothe plates 39, 40 are vertical flanges or plates, such as at 41, thatserve to rigidify the entire plate structure. As is evident in FIG. 4,the vertical flange 41 receives the bolt 37 by which the plate structure35 is carried on the respective gear housing 27. As is clearly evident,the entire structures 35 are supported in cantilever fashion on thevre-- spective gear housings 27.

Above and slightly rearwardly of the main transverse support beam is atransversely extending drive shaft 45. The shaft 45 also extendssubstantially the entire width of the row unit 10. Each of the gearhousings 27 is provided with a rear portion 46 having a transversehorizontal opening that receives a portion of the shaft 45. A coverplate 47 is provided at one end of the gear housing portion 46 and whenremoved, provides access into the gear housing 27. A gear 48 issupported concentrically with the shaft 45 within the housing portion 46and has hub portions journaled at 49, 50 to the gear housing portion 46and the cover plate 47. The main gear 48 is not, therefore, normallymounted in driving relation with the shaft 45. For this purpose, thereis provided a clutch mechanism 51. The clutch 51 is composed of a firstpart 52 fixed to rotate with the shaft 45 and a second part 53 fixed torotate with the gear 48,

a threaded joint 54 being provided for connection of the parts 53 and,48. The part 53 has a radial plate 59 supported thereon with teeth 55that intermesh with teeth on the part 52. The plate 59 is biased bysprings 56, carried on bolts 57, so that the teeth remain intermeshed.As the shaft 45 rotates, the gear. 48 is driven by the clutch l.However, should there be an excessive load, due either to malfunction orexcess material in the harvesting mechanism 25, the clutch will. slip atthe teeth 55. Y Y

Carried on the forward ends of the deck plates 39, 40 are sprocketdevices 60, 61, that include a pair of sprockets 62, 63 respectivelyprovided with spring tension means 64, 65 respectively tending to biasthe sprockets forwardly. The exact mounting means for the sprockets 62,63 are not important for a full appreciation of the present invention. Arear pair of'sprockets 66, 67 is provided above the deck rear plate 38and is carried on sprocket shafts 68, 69. A pair of chains 70, 71 iscarried by the sprockets 62, 68 and 63, 67 respectively and has innerruns adjacent to one another so as to engage and drive stalks movingthrough the passage in a rearward direction. A pair of chain guides 72,73 is provided outside of the respective inner runs and tends to preventthe runs from moving outwardly in respect to the passage. A pair ofrotatably driven harvesting rolls 76, 77 is provided beneath the deckplates. The rolls are carried on roll shafts 78, 79 respectively, thelatter extending through a forward vertical wall 80 of the gear housing27.

Supported within the housing 27 are three transverse horizontal gearshafts 84, 85, 86 having intermeshing spur gears 87, 88 and 89respectively mounted thereon. The gear 87 meshes with the teeth of thegear 48 and consequently the gears on the respective shafts are forcedto rotate. The shaft carries a pair of spur gears 90, 91 driving spurgears 92, 93 on the harvesting roll shafts 78, 79. The shaft 86 carriesa pair of spur gears 94, 95 meshing with large spur gears 96, 97 fixedto the sprocket shafts 68, 69. As may be seen, therefore, the entireharvesting mechanism on the respective row units 25 are driven entirelyby gears within the housing 27 and from a basic connection to the maindrive shaft 45.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, the deck plate 40 is adjustable in atransverse direction. The chain guide 73 has a laterally disposed flangethat rests on top of the plate 40 and is bolted as at 100 to a laterallydisposed flange 102 that is rigid with the vertical plate 41. Sandwichedbetween the flange of the chain guide 73 and the flange 102 is the deckplate 40. The plate 40 has a pair of transverse slots 103 that receivesthe bolts 100. Thus, the plate 40 is adapted to shift transversely. Onthe outer edges of the plate 40 there is pivotally mounted a pair ofbell cranks 104, 105. The bell cranks 104, 105 are pinned to the plate40 by pins 106, 107. The rear bell crank 104 is pinned at 108, thelatter pin 108 being journaled in a fitting 110 and having connectedthereto a rearwardly projecting arm 109. The rear end of the arm 109 isreleasably connected by bolts 111 to a transverse rod 112 disposeddirectly forwardly of the transverse main beam 26 and between theflanges of that beam. It will be noted there is a hollow area betweenthe lower portion 28 of the gear housing and the beam 26 through whichthe transverse rod 112 may project. Consequently a single transverse rod112 extends completely across the rear end of all of the harvestingunits and the single rod 112 may control the deck plates 40 andconsequently the widths of the respective passages of the harvestingunits 25. A link 113 interconnects the bell cranks 104, 105 and, as maybe seen from viewing FIG. 7, the link 113 and deck plate 40 are in factparallel links and the bell cranks 104, 105 are further parallel linksso that as the bell crank 104 is rotated the deck plate is guideduniformly inwardly or outwardly.'The slots 103 permit transverseadjustment of the plates 40. The bolts 111. may be loosened to permitshifting of the arms 109 along the rod 112 to accommodate transverseadjustment or repositioning of the mechanisms on the beam 26.

Power for operating the entire corn head is received from the powersource of the combine by means of a power input sprocket 115 fixed toone part of an expandable belt pulley 116. The sprocket part 116 has acentral hub portion 117 on which is slidably carried a second part 118of the expandable pulley. The hub 117 is carried on a mounting shaft 119having an outer threaded end 120. As may be seen from FIG. 1, thesprocket parts 116, l 17 are supported on the upper end of the feederhousing 12 and the input sprocket 115 is closely adjacent to the combinewhere it may easily be driven by power from the combine. Carried on thethreaded end 120 is a sprocket 121 having a hub portion bearing againstthe hub portion of the pulley part 118. Consequently as the sprocket 121is threaded along the threaded part 120 it moves the sprocket part 118axially to increase or decrease the effective width of the groovebetween the parts 116, 118. At the lower end of the feeder housing,there is provided a similar structure that includes a pair of relativelymovable pulley parts 125, 126 supported basically on a support shaft 127having an outer threaded end 128. An output sprocket 129 is fixed torotate with the sprocket part 125. An adjusting sprocket 130 isthreadedly mounted to the threaded end 128 and its hub portion bearsagainst the hub portion of the pulley part 126. Consequently as thesprocket 130 is threaded along the threaded part 128, it adjusts theeffective width of the pulley groove. It will be noted from viewing FIG.9 that the threads on the shaft parts 120, 128 are of opposite hand sothat as both sprocket parts 121, 130 move in clockwise orcounterclockwise directions there is an opposite effect on the width ofthe respective grooves in the pulley structures. A belt 131 is playedover the respective pulley parts 116, 118 and 125,126 and a chain 132 isplayed over the sprockets 121, 130. Opposite ends of the chain 132 areconnected to opposite ends of a rod 133 that extends outwardly ofopposite ends of a hydraulic cylinder 134. Fixed to the rod 133internally of the cylinder 134 is' a piston, not shown, that may beactuated for axial movement within the cylinder 134 by hydraulic lines135, 136. As is clearly apparent, by suitable shifting of the pistonwithin the cylinder 134, the chain 132 is caused to shift and to rotatethe respective sprockets 121, 130 in a single direction, the latteraction creating shifting of the shiftable pulley parts 118, 126 and tothereby adjust the speed of the output sprocket 129.

The input sprocket 115 of the above drive, as previously mentioned,receives its power from the main power source of the combine. It isbelieved such is significant for the reason that the rate of movement ofthe drive chains 70, 71, the harvesting rolls 76, 77, and the augerdevice 146 that extends transversely across the rear ends of theharvesting units 25 may be adjusted without regard to the rate ofmovement of the combine over the field. Referring now to FIG. 10, theoutput sprocket 129 drives a countershaft 140 through a flexible drive141. The shaft 140 drives an auger drive shaft 142 by a flexible drive143 and also drives the main harvesting unit shaft 45 through a flexibledrive 144. Thus, it may seem that the adjustable drive consisting of theadjustable pulleys and the V-belt 131 affects the rate of rotation ofthe auger 146 and the various-movable parts on the individual harvestingunits 25 that are controlled by the unit drive shaft 45.

We claim:

1. In the combination of a corn harvester and a combine with a powersource and having a forwardly'di-' rected feeder housing with a forwardend detachably connected to the corn harvester, and the corn harvesterhaving a plurality of harvesting units disposed in sideby-side relationacross a plurality of transversely spaced rows of corn, and in whicheach harvesting unit has a pair of rotatably driven harvesting rolls anddriven gathering chains, the improvement comprising: a transverse driveshaft supported on the harvester; drive means connecting the harvestingrolls and gathering chains of each of the harvesting units to the driveshaft; an adjustable drive means supported on the feeder housing drivenby the main power source and drivingly connected to the drive shaft, thelatter means being adjustable whereby the rate of movement of the rollsand chains for all of the units are adjustable in unison andirrespective of the rate of movement of the vehicle over the ground.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by slipclutch means being provided in the aforesaid drive means so as to permitstoppage of the harvesting units upon an overload being created withinthe drive means and by the harvesting units.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which the feeder housing hasopposite fore-and-aft extending upright sides and the adjustable drivemeans includes a belt driven variable speed pulley drive mounted on oneof the sides of the feeder house.

4. In combination, a crop-treating unit, a forwardly directed feederstructure extending downwardly from an upper rear end feeding into thecrop-treating unit to a lower forward end and including a feederhousing; a harvester forwardly of the feeder housing having a pluralityof harvesting units disposed in side-by-side relation across a pluralityof transversely spaced rows of corn with each unit having operable partsfor harvesting a row of com; a transverse horizontal drive shaftsupported by the harvester and connected to the operable parts fordriving the latter; a variable speed belt drive mounted on the feederhousing including a drive and a driven pulley, at least one of which isvariable in effective width for adjusting the speed of the drivenpulley; and a drive connection between the driven pul ley and transverseshaft forva rying the speed of the operable parts in unison.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 in which the adjustable pulleymay be expanded or narrowed by remote control means. i

6. The invention as set forth in claim 4 in which the adjustable pulleymay be expanded or narrowed by extending or retracting a hydrauliccylinder associated therewith and the remote means includes hydraulichoses connected to the cylinder.

7. In combination, a crop-treating unit, a forwardly directed feederstructure extending downwardly from an upper rear end feeding into thecrop-treating unit to a lower forward end and including a feederhousing; a harvester forwardly of the feeder housing having a pluralityof harvesting units disposed in side-by-side relation across a pluralityof transversely spaced rows of corn with each unit having operable partsfor harvestpulley, at least one of which is variable in effective widthfor adjusting the speed of the driven pulley; and a drive connectionbetween the driven pulley and transverse shaft for varying the speed ofthe operable parts in unison.

OF'COR-RECTION -i-i Patent No. 153,759,021 Dated 18 September 197% Invnt r( Lester'Dalc Schreinor and John Josegh Shindelar It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line #2, change "corn" to crop --5 line 4-3, change corn" tocrop line 67, change "corn" to crop Column 7, line 1, change "corn" tocrop line 2, change shift to shaft Signed and sealed this 2nd day ofApril 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M .FLETCHER, JR. C MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM PC4050 USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 W U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTINGOFFICE l99 O-'368-33l,

1. In the combination of a corn harvester and a combine with a powersource and having a forwardly directed feeder housing with a forward enddetachably connected to the corn harvester, and the corn harvesterhaving a plurality of harvesting units disposed in side-by-side relationacross a plurality of transversely spaced rows of corn, and in whicheach harvesting unit has a pair of rotatably driven harvesting rolls anddriven gathering chains, the improvement comprising: a transverse driveshaft supported on the harvester; drive means connecting the harvestingrolls and gathering chains of each of the harvesting units to the driveshaft; an adjustable drive means supported on the feeder housing drivenby the main power source and drivingly connected to the drive shaft, thelatter means being adjustable whereby the rate of movement of the rollsand chains for all of the units are adjustable in unison andirrespective of the rate of movement of the vehicle over the ground. 2.The invention as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by slipclutch means being provided in the aforesaid drive means so as to permitstoppage of the harvesting units upon an oveRload being created withinthe drive means and by the harvesting units.
 3. The invention as setforth in claim 1 in which the feeder housing has opposite fore-and-aftextending upright sides and the adjustable drive means includes a beltdriven variable speed pulley drive mounted on one of the sides of thefeeder house.
 4. In combination, a crop-treating unit, a forwardlydirected feeder structure extending downwardly from an upper rear endfeeding into the crop-treating unit to a lower forward end and includinga feeder housing; a harvester forwardly of the feeder housing having aplurality of harvesting units disposed in side-by-side relation across aplurality of transversely spaced rows of corn with each unit havingoperable parts for harvesting a row of corn; a transverse horizontaldrive shaft supported by the harvester and connected to the operableparts for driving the latter; a variable speed belt drive mounted on thefeeder housing including a drive and a driven pulley, at least one ofwhich is variable in effective width for adjusting the speed of thedriven pulley; and a drive connection between the driven pulley andtransverse shaft for varying the speed of the operable parts in unison.5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 in which the adjustable pulleymay be expanded or narrowed by remote control means.
 6. The invention asset forth in claim 4 in which the adjustable pulley may be expanded ornarrowed by extending or retracting a hydraulic cylinder associatedtherewith and the remote means includes hydraulic hoses connected to thecylinder.
 7. In combination, a crop-treating unit, a forwardly directedfeeder structure extending downwardly from an upper rear end feedinginto the crop-treating unit to a lower forward end and including afeeder housing; a harvester forwardly of the feeder housing having aplurality of harvesting units disposed in side-by-side relation across aplurality of transversely spaced rows of corn with each unit havingoperable parts for harvesting a row of corn; a transverse horizontaldrive shaft supported by the harvester means connecting the shift to theoperable parts of each harvesting unit for driving the latter with eachmeans including a slip clutch for permitting the operable parts of therespective unit to cease operation; a variable speed belt drive mountedon the feeder housing including a drive and a driven pulley, at leastone of which is variable in effective width for adjusting the speed ofthe driven pulley; and a drive connection between the driven pulley andtransverse shaft for varying the speed of the operable parts in unison.